Delphinium plant named ‘COADELPSUR’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Delphinium elatum  plant named ‘COADELPSUR’ which is characterized by basal foliage with compound terminal racemes held above the foliage, flowers loosely held on long pedicels, multicolored flowers with an abundance of tepaloids, and the stability and uniformity of these traits through successive cycles of asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Delphinium elatum.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Delphinium disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘COADELPSUR’.

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2020/3159, filed on Dec. 2, 2020, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘COADELPSUR’ is the result of a planned breeding program carried out in Glasgow, Scotland. The claimed plant is a seedling selection resulting from the controlled pollination of a Delphinium elatum ‘No10’, the seed parent, with Delphinium elatum ‘TC14’, the pollen parent, in the summer of 2013. Both parents were developed and are owned by the inventor and were never released or patented. In the summer of 2014, one plant was observed to exhibit unique multicolored flowers with a high petaloid count and was isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘COADELPSUR’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: In the spring of 2015, ‘COADELPSUR’ was first asexually reproduced in Glasgow, Scotland by way of softwood stem cuttings. The claimed plant was found to asexually reproduce in uniform and stable manner and six successive cycles of vegetative propagation have proven to be true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Delphinium plant, ‘COADELPSUR’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘COADELPSUR’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. ‘COADELPSUR’ exhibits basal foliage with a compound terminal         raceme held above the foliage; and     -   2. ‘COADELPSUR’ exhibits flowers loosely held on long pedicels         along the raceme; and     -   3. ‘COADELPSUR’ exhibits an abundance of tepaloids; and     -   4. ‘COADELPSUR’ exhibits flowers with multiple whorls of tightly         held tepaloids at the center of the perianth, somewhat more         relaxed tepaloids towards the outer whorls of the perianth, and         an outer whorl of loosely held tepals; and     -   5. ‘COADELPSUR’ exhibits multicolored tepals comprised of         violet-blue, blue, greyed-purple, yellow-green and green; and     -   6. ‘COADELPSUR’ exhibits light yellow-green tepaloids with a         darker yellow-green central blotch near the apex; and     -   7. ‘COADELPSUR’ exhibits outermost tepaloids that are suffused         with a mixture of purple-violet and violet-blue on the upper         surface and colored with a mixture of violet and blue on the         distal two-thirds portion of the lower surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the foliage of a 6-month-old ‘COADELPSUR’ plant.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the inflorescence of a 6-month-old ‘COADELPSUR’ plant.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the flowers of a 6-month-old ‘COADELPSUR’ plant.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct Delphinium plant known as ‘COADELPSUR’. Plant observations were made on a 6-month-old plant growing in Glasgow, Scootland. The observed plant was field-grown in full exposure to natural sunlight, maintained with organic fertilizer and overhead irrigation. Chemical control of powdery mildew was utilized in production, but no other pest or pathogen countermeasures were employed. For the purposes of these observations, the observed plant was harvested from the field and potted into a 19 cm nursery container. Observation data was recorded in July of 2021.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘COADELPSUR’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, Sixth Edition except where common terms of color are used.

A botanical description of ‘COADELPSUR’ and comparisons with the parents and most similar commercial cultivar are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Perennial plant with basal foliage and branched             flowering stems, bearing flowers arranged on terminal             racemes held above the foliage.         -   Plant profile.—Narrow ovate to ovate.         -   Height.—48.1 cm to the top of the foliar plane; 132.2 cm to             the top of the floral plane.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Growth rate.—Fast growing.         -   Propagation.—Method — Softwood stem cuttings. Time to             initiate rooting — 6 weeks at an average ambient temperature             of 15 degrees Celsius. Time to produce flowering plant from             rooted cutting — Approximately 6 months in an 11 cm             container.         -   Pest resistance and susceptibility.—Not any more or less             susceptible to pests or diseases known to effect Delphinium             sp.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 5             to 9 and temperatures ranging from minus 23 degrees Celsius             to 35 degrees Celsius; moderate tolerance to rain; low             tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   Description.—A moderately dense network of relatively             shallow thin, fibrous feeder roots and deeper thick anchor             roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—No vegetative branches are present, however             branched flowering stems are present.         -   Flowering stem.—Attitude — Erect; near vertical. Aspect —             Generally rounded; very slightly angular. Strength — Strong.             Length — 38.8 cm. Diameter — 1.0 cm. Internode length —             4.6 cm. Texture — Glabrous. Luster — Matte, due to the             presence of epicuticular wax. Color, developing stems —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. Color, mature stems —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146A, and covered with an             epicuticular wax which is colored greyed-green, nearest to             RHS 191A. Color at the internodes — Yellow-green, nearest to             RHS 146A, and covered with an epicuticular wax which is             colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 191A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Quantity.—14 stem leaves.         -   Shape.—Palmate with a reniform outline; deeply lobed to near             cleft.         -   Lobes.—Depth of sinuses — Deep. Sinus orientation —             Divergent.         -   Aspect.—Flat.         -   Attitude.—Outward.         -   Length.—14.5 cm.         -   Width.—17.7 cm.         -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.         -   Base.—Broadly hastate; lobes free.         -   Margins.—Coarsely serrate; sparsely to moderately pubescent.         -   Texture and pubescence, adaxial surface.—Smooth and             glabrous.         -   Texture and pubescence, abaxial surface.—Smooth and glabrous             with the exception of the veins which are sparsely to             moderately covered with short, soft hairs. Hairs have an             average length of 0.75 mm and are colored white, nearest to             RHS NN155D.         -   Luster, adaxial surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Luster, abaxial surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage color, adaxial surface — Green,             nearest to a mixture of RHS 138A and 143A. Juvenile foliage             color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146A.             Mature leaf color, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS             NN137A. Mature leaf color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 147B.         -   Venation.—Type — Laciniate. Vein color, adaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. Vein color, abaxial             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 146A and             146B.         -   Petiole.—Length — 13.3 cm. Diameter — Petioles are             flattened; 0.3 cm tall and 0.25 cm wide. Strength — Very             strong. Texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Smooth and             sparsely covered with very short, soft hairs at both the             distal and proximal ends. Hairs exhibit an average length of             1.5 mm. Luster, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Moderately             glossy. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to             RHS 146A, and suffused with a darker shade of yellow-green             towards the proximal end, nearest to RHA 152A. Color,             abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A.         -   Stipules.—None. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Compound terminal raceme with a central,             main raceme and lateral racemes.         -   Natural flowering season.—Late summer in Glasgow, Scotland.         -   Time to flower or response time.—Approximately 9 months.         -   Height.—The entire compound raceme is 99.4 cm high, from the             lowest branching of the peduncle to the apex of the             inflorescence. The main, central raceme is 91.9 cm tall.         -   Diameter.—The entire compound raceme is 22.6 cm in diameter;             the main, central raceme is 12.2 cm in diameter.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—52 on the main             raceme; 21 on the lateral raceme.         -   Peduncle.—Length — Approximately 98.2 cm. Diameter —             Approximately 0.6 cm. Attitude — Erect, in an average angle             of 0 degrees to the main stem. Strength — Strong. Texture —             Smooth, glabrous, and glaucous. Luster — Matte. Color —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A; epicuticular wax is             green, nearest to RHS 138A.         -   Bracts.—Quantity — Two bracts are present at the base of             each individual flower. Arrangement — Opposite. Shape —             Linear. Length — 1.8 cm, on average. Width — 0.1 cm, on             average. Apex — Narrowly acute. Base — Cuneate. Margin —             Entire. Texture — Smooth and glabrous. Color, adaxial and             abaxial surfaces — Yellow-green, nearest to 144A. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Shape.—Broad obovate, excluding the floral spur.         -   Length.—Average of 1.4 cm, excluding the spur; 2.3 cm,             including the spur.         -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth and glabrous.         -   Luster.—Very slightly glossy.         -   Color, upper surface.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C, and             darker at the apex, nearest to RHS 144A; suffused with             greyed-green, nearest to RHS 194B.         -   Color, lower surface.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C, and             darker at the apex, nearest to RHS 144A.         -   Color, spur.—Greyed-green, nearest to RHS 194B. -   Flower:     -   -   Type and form.—Rotate; double.         -   Aspect.—Outwardly to slightly upright.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Approximately 10 days.         -   Longevity of cut flowers.—Approximately 10 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning         -   Fragrance.—Non-fragrant.         -   Height.—Average of 5.6 cm.         -   Width.—Average of 4.9 cm.         -   Depth.—Average of 4.1 cm.         -   Perianth.—No distinct petals and sepals, only tepals and             tepaloids are present. Tepals — Quantity — 5 unfused tepals;             one dorsal, two lateral, and two lower tepals. Arrangement —             Rotate; single whorl. Attitude — Relaxed. Aspect —             Moderately concave. Length — Dorsal tepal — 2.7 cm. Lateral             tepals — 2.7 cm. Lower tepals — 2.8 cm. Width — Dorsal tepal             — 1.6 cm. Lateral tepals — 1.7 cm. Lower tepals — 1.5 cm.             Shape — Dorsal tepal is elliptic; lateral tepals are             obovate; lower tepals are narrowly obovate to elliptic. Apex             — Doral tepal is acute; lateral and lower tepals are broadly             acute to acute. Base — All tepals are broad cuneate. Margin             — All tepals are entire and slightly undulated. Texture,             luster and pubescence of the upper surface — All tepals are             glabrous, moderately velvety, and matte. Texture, luster and             pubescence of the lower surface — All tepals are glabrous,             slightly velvety, and matte. Color when opening, upper             surface — Dorsal tepal — Violet-blue, nearest to RHS 98B;             suffused with yellow-green in the central zone of the tepal,             nearest to RHS 147C; proximal one-half portion of the tepal             is a translucent yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147D. Lateral             tepals — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C, and fading to a             slightly lighter shade of yellow-green towards the margins,             nearest to RHS 145D; becoming darker at the base, nearest to             RHS 144A; apex is blue, nearest to a mixture of RHS 100A and             100B. Lower tepals — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C, and             fading to a slightly lighter shade of yellow-green towards             the margins, nearest to RHS 145D; becoming darker at the             base, nearest to RHS 144A; apex is blue, nearest to a             mixture of RHS 100A and 100B. Color when opening, lower             surface — Dorsal tepal — The distal one-half portion of the             tepal is green, nearest to RHS 143B; the proximal half of             the tepal is a translucent greyed-green, nearest to RHS             195C, and fades to yellow-green at the base, nearest to RHS             144B; margined blue, nearest to RHS 102D. Lateral tepals —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A, and fading to a slightly             lighter shade of yellow-green towards the base, nearest to a             mixture of RHS 145A and 145B, before again darkening             slightly at the base, nearest to RHS 144A; margins are             yellow-green, RHS 145D, and transition to blue along the             distal portion of the margins and apex, nearest to RHS 100B.             Lower tepals — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A, and fading             to a slightly lighter shade of yellow-green towards the             base, nearest to a mixture of RHS 145A and 145B, before             again darkening slightly at the base, nearest to RHS 144A;             margins are yellow-green, RHS 145D, and transition to blue             along the distal portion of the margins and apex, nearest to             RHS 100B. Color when fully opened, upper surface — Dorsal             tepal — Violet-blue, nearest to RHS 98B; suffused with             yellow-green in the central zone of the tepal, nearest to             RHS 144A; apex is greyed-green, nearest to RHS 197A;             proximal one-half portion of the tepal is a translucent             green-white, nearest to RHS 157C; base is yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 144B. Tepals do not fade with age. Lateral             tepals — The distal one-half portion of the tepal is blue,             nearest to RHS 100B, and suffused with green towards the             central zone, nearest to a mixture of RHS 133B and 133C;             tepal color transitions to a mixture of violet-blue and             greyed-purple towards the base, nearest to RHS 91D and             N187D; base is colored yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146D.             Tepals do not fade with age. Lower tepals — The distal             one-half portion of the tepal is blue, nearest to RHS 100B,             and suffused with green towards the central zone, nearest to             a mixture of RHS 133B and 133C; tepal color transitions to a             mixture of violet-blue and greyed- purple towards the base,             nearest to RHS 91D and N187D; base is colored yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 146D. Tepals do not fade with age. Color when             fully opened, lower surface — Dorsal tepal — Violet-blue,             nearest to RHS 94C; fading to green towards both the base             and apex, nearest to RHS 143C; apex is grey-brown, nearest             to RHS 199B. Tepals do not fade with age. Lateral tepals —             Violet-blue, nearest to RHS 91D, and fading to yellow-green             towards the central zone of the tepal, nearest to a mixture             of RHS 144A, 144B and 144C; base is yellow- green, nearest             to RHS 146C; margins are blue, nearest to RHS 100B. Tepals             do not fade with age. Lower tepals — Violet-blue, nearest to             RHS 91D, and fading to yellow-green towards the central zone             of the tepal, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144A, 144B and             144C; base is yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146C; margins are             blue, nearest to RHS 100B. Tepals do not fade with age.             Tepal venation color — Fully opened, upper surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146C. Fully opened, lower             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146C. Tepaloids —             Arrangement — Rotate; the unfused tepaloids are relatively             tightly-held in 10 whorls. Attitude — Inner tepaloids are             erect; outer tepaloids are somewhat relaxed. Aspect — Inner             tepaloids are strongly concave; outer tepaloids are             reflexed. Quantity — 90. Length — 2.0 cm. Width — 0.9 cm.             Shape — Obovate to narrowly obovate. Apex — Acute. Base —             Cuneate. Margin — Entire; slight, coarse undulation.             Texture, luster and pubescence of the inner surface —             Moderately velvety, glabrous and matte. Texture, luster and             pubescence of the outer surface — Slightly velvety, glabrous             and very slightly glossy. Color when opening, upper surface             — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A, and fade to a lighter             shade of yellow-green towards the margins, nearest to a             mixture of RHS 145C and 145D. Outer tepaloids are suffused             with blue-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 116B and 116C.             Color when opening, lower surface — Yellow-green, nearest to             RHS 144A, and fading to a lighter shade of yellow-green             towards the margins, nearest to a mixture of RHS 145C and             145D. Apex of outer tepaloids are green, nearest to RHS             143A. Color when fully opened, upper surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to a mixture of RHS 145A and 145D, with a darker             yellow-green central blotch near the apex, nearest to RHS             144A. Outer tepaloids are heavily suffused with a mixture of             purple-violet and violet-blue, nearest to a mixture of RHS             N82B, 94A and 96D. Tepaloids do not fade with age. Color             when fully opened, lower surface — Yellow-green, nearest to             a mixture of RHS 145C and 145D, with a darker yellow-green             central blotch near the apex, nearest to RHS 144A. The             distal two-thirds portion of the outer tepaloids are colored             with a mixture of violet and blue, nearest to RHS N87C, 100A             and 100B. Tepaloids do not fade with age. Tepaloid venation             color when fully opened, inner surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 145A. Tepaloid venation color when fully             opened, outer surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145A.             Pedicels — Length — 8.5 cm. Diameter — 0.175 cm. Angle —             Average angle to peduncle axis is approximately 40 degrees.             Strength — Moderately strong to strong. Texture — Smooth and             glabrous. Luster — Glossy. Color — Green, nearest RHS 143A.             Spurs — Quantity — One dorsal tepal spur present. Length —             1.9 cm. Diameter — 0.3 cm. Shape — Narrowly oblanceolate.             Apex — Obtuse. Base — Broad cuneate. Texture — Moderately             rugose and glabrous. Luster — Moderately glossy. Color —             Greyed-green, nearest to RHS 195B; slightly suffused with             greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N187D. -   Reproductive organs: All reproductive organs reduced to tepaloids.     An undeveloped ovary is present; colored green, nearest to RHS 143A. -   Fruit and seed: No fruiting has been observed.

COMPARISON WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘COADELPSUR’ differ from the seed parent, Delphinium elatum ‘No10’ (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘COADELPSUR’ ‘No10’ Quantity of tepaloids. More than ‘No10’. Fewer than ‘COADELPSUR’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘COADELPSUR’ differ from the pollen parent, Delphinium elatum ‘TC14’ (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘COADELPSUR’ ‘TC14’ Quantity of tepaloids. More than ‘TC14’. Fewer than ‘COADELPSUR’.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR DELPHINIUM CULTIVAR KNOWN TO THE INVENTOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘COADELPSUR’ are most similar to the commercial cultivar, Delphinium elatum ‘Dolce Vita’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,010). A comparison of ‘COADELPSUR’ with Delphinium ‘Dolce Vita’ is described in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘COADELPSUR’ ‘Dolce Vita’ Plant size. Taller than ‘Dolce Vita’. Shorter than ‘COADELPSUR’. Foliage size. Smaller than ‘Dolce Vita’. Larger than ‘COADELPSUR’. Inflorescence size. Longer than ‘Dolce Vita’. Shorter than ‘COADELPSUR’. Arrangement of Loosely held along the Tightly arranged on flowers. peduncle, on pedicels shorter pedicels, that are longer than along the length of those of ‘Dolce Vita’. the peduncle. Presence of None present; All Present. reproductive organs. reproductive organs reduced to tepaloids. Quantity of tepaloids. 90. 17. General coloration of Inner tepaloids are Light purple and the tepals when fully generally pale yellow- lightly opened; upper surface. green; outer tepaloids are suffused with white; pale yellow-green and margined blue. heavily suffused with a mixture of purple-violet and violet-blue. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Delphinium elatum plant named ‘COADELPSUR’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 